Bitsy Parks is a favorite familiar face at Bonny Slope. She has taught first grade at Bonny Slope since the school opened in 2008. What an exciting adventure that was to be a part of starting something new! Not only has it been a great project to her as an educator, really digging in to pedagogy and best practice, but her entire family has been along for the ride. All four of Bitsy's children have attended this school. The most interesting thing about starting a new PYP school as a member of the staff and the community was learning alongside other passionate teachers and seeing the IB curriculum play out not only in her classroom but at home, through her children, as well.There was life before Bonny Slope. Bitsy grew up in Boise, ID and was one of 7 children. It was clear to Dr. Krueger, Bitsy's father, that she was a born educator. Do you believe Bitsy didn't buy it at first? Although she knew she loved working with children she thought she wanted to do something that really mattered, something that would impact the world! It didn't take her long to figure out that in fact, her dad was right, she is born to teach and this job has an incredible impact on the world! Bitsy went to Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO. Her first job was teaching a fifth grade class in inner city Chicago. After leaving Chicago, Bitsy came back to the Pacific Northwest to continue her teaching career.She has taught almost every grade in elementary school but most of her career has been in the primary grades.No matter the grade level of her students, Bitsy has always had a passion for literacy. Every cupboard and shelf in her classroom is filled with books. Walk in to her room at any given time and you will hear a read aloud, see students reading or hear students engaged in conversations about books, authors and favorite characters. Bitsy played a major role in the recent BSD English Language Arts Adoption. Classrooms all over the district have larger classroom libraries in large part to Mrs. Park's directing our Adoption Committee to what really matters with learning to read: engagement and exposure to quality literature. Being a part of such a large district initiative was a lot of time and work but also an honor.And it’s been so worth it to see all the new books arrive at school!!!Bitsy’s passion for literacy led her to Lewis and Clark College where she earned her master’s degree in teaching as well as her ESOL and Reading endorsements. After finishing her degree Bitsy was asked to join the team at Lewis and Clark as an adjunct instructor to teachers seeking their reading endorsement.Not only is she teaching her students with and through literature, but she is sharing her knowledge with fellow educators! It is certain that Dr. Krueger was right, Bitsy was born to teach and what an impact she is making of the world! We are lucky to have Mrs. Parks on the incredible Bonny Slope staff!